The Arizona Libertarian Party is ballot-qualified in Arizona, and could have a presidential primary if it wished. But the party has informed the Secretary of State that it doesn’t want a presidential primary.
In 1996, the Arizona Democratic Party and the Arizona Libertarian Party jointly won a lawsuit in state court, establishing that if they don’t want a presidential primary, they can prevent such a primary. Later the legislature codified that any party is free to cancel a presidential primary. In 2020, the Arizona Republican Party has also cancelled its presidential primary.
Candidates get on an Arizona presidential primary ballot by showing that they are on in at least two other states’ presidential primaries. So far Pete Buttigieg is the only Democratic presidential primary candidate who has filed in Arizona.
how will AZ libertarians pick a candidate?
Like all state Libertarian Parties, the Arizona delegates to the national convention will be chosen in a state convention. When the Libertarian Party does use a presidential primary in any state, the results are never binding. The national convention is in Austin, Texas, Memorial Day weekend, 2020.
Well as a Libertarian, I think it is kind of dumb that they are not holding a primary, I mean I get that it is non-binding, but primaries build up a lot of Momentum for the General elections, I guess the AZLP want the party to stay small.